Moving-picture apparatus



F. H. GRABHORN.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1920.

Patented 1160.111921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. H. GRA'BHORN.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man MAY15. 1920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

. Illw- YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOVING-PICTURE APPARATUS.

To all whom/it co/zwem:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. GRABHORN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Moving-Picture Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to moving picture ap aratus.

ne of the objects of this invention is to make a moving pictureapparatus, either a camera or projecting apparatus, which may beoperated continuously, without interruptions due to the changing ofeither the delivery or receivin film reels.

Other objects o this invention are to provide a device which may be usedto continuously project pictures, without interruptions due to changingof the film reels either at the receiving or delivery end of theapparatus; to provide a device in which the is protected from fire atall times; in which means are provided for forming slack in the film,whereby suilicient film is allowed for the changing of the film rollswithout stopping the machine; and to provide an apparatus which may beattached to an ordinary prgjecting machine.

urther objects are to provide film reel ousings, and lilm housings forboth the supply and delivery end of the apparatus; to provide aconnecting telescopic passage-way for the film; to provide compartments,which compartments will be fire proof, and will protect the film; and toprovide an apparatus through which the film may be readily andconveniently threaded when the machine is initially started.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showin a projectingapparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the delivery ap aratus, and

ig. 3 is a sectional view of the receiving ap aratus.

ig. 1 shows the general arrangement of the entire apparatus. A projectorlis mounted upon a standard 2, and supported from a base 3. To thisstandard is clamped the receiving apparatus 4, which is positionedbeneath the head 5 of the projector, and is connected therewith by meansof a chute 6.

The delivery apparatus 7 is positioned at right angles to a planethrough the progect- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application nled lay 15,

-iafitented Dee. 6, 1921.A 1920. Serial No. 381,645.

ing a paratus, and the receivin a aratus 4 and) to one side thereof, gpp A telescopic chute S connects the delivery a paratus and theprojecting head 5.

1s chute has an angular bend 9 formed therein, and a roller 10positioned at such angular bend. The upper portions l1 and 12 slide overor telescope the lower portions 13 and 14 so that this chute may bearranged in a room of any desired height. The portions 11, 12, 13A nd 14are provided with doors 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively, which arehingedly mounted upon the chutes, and may be opened, suitable latchesbeing provided to lock the doors in closed position.

en these doors are opened the film may be readily threaded through thechute.

e receiving and delivery apparatus 4 and 7 are conveniently mounted uponlegs or stands 19 and 20, which may be secured upon the floor. Thereceiving apparatus 4 may be further secured to the standard 2 by meansof clamping members 2l and 22.

Fig. 2 shows asectional view of the delivery apparatus. This apparatuscomprises a lire proof box of slightl greater width than the film, sothat the iliin will not tend to twist in the box, but may be caused tofold, under certain conditions, back and forth as indicated in dottedlines at 23. This fire proof casing is divided into two maincompartments: a vertical compartment 24, which is in communication withthe chute 8, and extends from the upper portion of the casing to thelower portion, and a main-compartment 25 which also extends the fullheight of the casing. The compartment 24 is provided with a suitabledoor 26 extending the full length thereof, and hinged at 27 to thepartition 28. Figs. 1 and 2; in the latter gure, however, such door isshown partly broken away. The compartment 25 is provided with a smalldoor 29 hingedly mounted at 30 to the lower portion 31 of thecompartment, and is further provided with an upper door 32 hingedlymounted yupon a transverse brace 33, extending across the compartment25, but not passing into such compartment. These doors are secured bymeans of appropriate latches, so that they may be locked in closedposition.

At the point where the iilm 34 passes from the chute 8 into thecompartment 24, rollers This door is shown in- 35 are provided whichprevent the passageV of fire, either to or from the compartments.

At the point where the film 34 passes from the compartment 25 to thecompartment 24, corresponding rolls 36 are provided.

The delivery reel 37 is mounted upon a suitable support 38 in the upperportion of the compartment 25, and may be readily placed therein byopening the door 32. The film is slightly unrolled and hangs down in thecompartment 25. The doorA 32 is now closed, and the door 29 opened. Theoperator then reaches his hand upwardly into the compartment 25, andcatches the end of the film, thereafter threading such end between therollers 36 into the compartment'24. The door 29 is now closed, and thedoor 26 opened. The operator now catches the film, and draws it upwardlythrough thf` compartment, finally passing between the rollers 25 andinto the chute 8. Thereafter the film is threaded through the chute,access being provided by means of thel doors previously described.- Thiscompletes the threading of the film through the compartment or deliveryapparatus 7 and the chute 8.

From the-chute 8 the film passes through the projector head 5, throughthe chute 6 and into the receiving apparatus 4. This receiving apparatus4 comprises a fire p roof sheet iron casing which is divided into two`vertical compartments 38 and 39, by means of the partition 40. Access tothe compartments 38 and 39 may be had at their upper ends by means of adoor 4l hingedly mounted at 42 to the casing. Access to the lowerportion of the compartment 39 is had by means of the door 43. Access tothe lower portion of the compartment 38 is had by means of the door 44,which door is suitably hinged at 45 to the casing.

The film 34 is passed from thechute 6 between rollers 46, and into ,thecompartment 39. From the rollers 46 the film passes between the rollers47 and 47', the roller 47 being a sprocket driving roller, `andreceiving its motion through the medium of a belt 48 driven from theprojecting apparatus, and the pulley 49 mounted upon the shaft of theroller 47.' -Thereafter the film passes.

downwardly to the bottom of the compartment 39 between rollers 50, andinto the compartment 38. From this point the film passes upwardlybetween guide rollers 51 and to the receiving reel 52. This reel 52 ismounted upon a shaft 53 which is driven from the projecting apparatus bymeans of the belt 54, and a pulley 55, such pulley being mounted uponthe shaft 53.

By providing the compartments 25 and 39 in the manner, and associated asshown, suitable space or room for the slack in the film, formed atcertain times in the operation of the device, is provided. "Theoperation of the delivery and receiving apparatus will now be describedin detail.

The receiving apparatus guides the film in the manner shown in fulllines under normal conditions. However, when the end of the film isapproached, the operator ope-ns the door 32, gives the reel 37 a spin,thereby unwinding a substantial length of film, and causing it to foldback and forth in the compartment 25, as indicated at dotted lineS. at23. Thereafter the old reel is removed, a new reel inserted and the endof the old film jointed to the beginning of the new film, such operationrequiring a very short time, and sufficient slack being provided in thecompartment 25 so that the film may be continuously withdrawn from thecompartment 25 without interruption while 'this change is being made.

'Ihe receiving apparatus is designed to provide a reservoir orcompartment 39 for the slack film which is formed when the operation ofthe receiving reel 52 is stopped. When the reel 52is filled and the endof the old film arrives at such reel, its operation is stoppedtemporarily. 4The feed roll 47 continues to operate, and the incomingfilm is projected into compartment 39 folding back and forth in suchcompartment, as shown in dotted lines. `While the slack in the film isbeing stored in compartment 39 a new reel is positioned upon the shaft53, and the end of the film started upvon such new reel. The reel is nowcaused to operate, and the slack is withdrawn from the compartment 39,the film finally arriving at the full line position in Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen that a moving picture apparatus has been providedin which there will be no interruptions of the picture or operation ofthe machine while either a new reel is being installed, or an old reelremoved.

It will also be seen that a ver simple and efficient device has beenprovided for accomplishing these objects, and that such device may bereadily operated, and does not require unusual skill in its operation.

It will further be seen that the film is always protected from creasingor knotting, and that it is further always protected from fire by thearrangements shown.

I claim:

1. A moving picture machine comprising a projecting apparatus, a filmdelivery apparatus, and a film receiving apparatus, said delivery andreceiving apparatus having separated compartments through which the filmpasses and arranged to allow th-e temporary accumulation of a supply offilm upon either side of the projecting apparatus.

2. A film delivery apparatus, for a motion picture machine, comprising acasing having a plurality of compartments; one of said compartmentshaving a reel receiving device adjacent its upper end, and being ofsubstantial dimensions below said film receiving device; means forallowing withdrawal of film from the bottom of sald compartment; andmeans for providing access to said reel; whereby when the end of saidfilm is approached the reel may be caused to deliver film into the lowerportion of the compartment, in which the reel is located, and form slacktherein thereby permitting the continuous removal of film by the motionpicture machine while a new reel is being installed.

3. A moving picture machine comprising a projecting apparatus,vand filmdelivery and film receiving means associated therewith, one of saidmeans including a fireproof receptacle, a film reel support therein,said receptacle having an aperture through which the film passes andhaving a space below said reel support to allow the temporaryaccumulation of film while a new reel is substituted for the old reel.

4. A moving picture machine comprising an optical apparatus and filmdelivery and lm receiving means associated therewith, one of said meansincluding a compartment,

a film reel support mounted therein, and a film guiding roller locatedbelow said reel support, said compartment having a space below said filmreel support to allow the temporary accumulation of film and having anopening through which said lm may pass.

5. A moving pitcure machine comprising an optical apparatus and filmdelivery and film receiving means associated therewith, each of saidmeans including a compart ment, a lm reel supfport mounted therein and afilm guiding roller located below said reel support, said compartmenthaving a space below said film reel support to allow temporaryaccumulation of ihn, and a chute connecting said film delivery and saidfilm receiving means.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK H. GRABHORN.

Witnesses:

A. J. MCKERIHAN, O. C. WEBER.

